Compare towns
Warren vs Ashburnham vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
North Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Warren | Ashburnham | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
6,415Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Brookfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Ashburnham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Ashburnham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Ashburnham-Westminster | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.